Real Salt Lake signs world cup talent Bryan Oviedo

Rio Tinto Stadium by Cole Bagley Photo: Cole Bagley.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — With the 2022 Soccer World Cup approaching, Real Salt Lake announced that the team signed 32-year old Bryan Oviedo, a Europe-based, Costa Rican world cup player Bryan Oviedo.

Oviedo has arrived at the Wasatch Front, where he prepares to possibly compete in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for the Costa Rican national team. He has been playing since he was a teenager, and got his break when he played for FC Copenhagen from 2010-2012 in 30 appearances. While at Copenhagen, Oviedo won five trophies in two years including Danish Superliga and Danish Super Cup titles.

Later, Oviedo played for Everton FC in England in 50 appearances, including a 86th minute game winning goal against Manchester United in 2013. He sat out for the 2014 season after breaking a leg in Everton’s fourth-round FA Cup game against Stevenage.

Oviedo has recently played more for the Costa Rican international team, making 71 appearances in the 2021-22 years. Commenting on Oviedo’s participation on Real Salt Lake, the team’s general manager Elliot Fall said the following:

“Bryan is a left back who brings a wealth of experience and ability to our backline. He’s a well-rounded player who is excellent on the ball and has physical attributes that will translate well to our league. In adding him to our roster, we now have one of the best groups of outside backs in MLS.”

Oviedo is the first Costa Rican to play for RSL since FW Alvaro Soborio who played from 2010-15 and scored 63 goals. He is only the ninth Costa Rican currently playing in the MLS.